General Info

Most successful family businesses don't begin their stories in the Great Depression. But Jacobsen Trailer, Inc. is an exception.During the 1930's, Ernest Jacobsen ( left - picture circa 1938 ) started Selma Trailer to manufacture farm trailers to farmers in California's San Joaquin Valley, one of the largest agricultural areas in the United States. he built trailers for cotton and grape farmers with parts salvaged from Model T fords, and may have built the first rubber tired farm trailers. Ernest Jacobsen's success during the Depression hinged on his ability to scavenge parts from his auto wrecking yard.The same adeptness Ernest ( right - picture circa 1938 ) used to supply customers with quality trailers can be seen in his son's ability to run his own successful trailer business. Gene Jacobsen grew up working for his father at Selma Trailer in Selma California. While Gene was away attending school, Ernest Jacobsen's company was sold in 1952. then in the early 1960's gene started another family business, Jacobsen Trailer in the nearby town of Fowler. And now Gene has his son Eric Jacobsen in sales making three generations.Each year Jacobsen builds hundreds of over the road trailers from tiltbeds and dump trailers to beavertails including flatbeds in drag coupler or gooseneck and fifth wheel couplers from 4, 000 lbs. up to 80, 000 lbs. GVWR. Also numerous fuel cell tank trailers are built for many engine manufacturers. They mount diesel engines on top of the fuel tanks to supply fuel to the mobile field sprinklers pumps or mobile generator set. ( left - picture circa 1942 of Gene Jacobsen )Jacobsen trailer also manufactures the unique Selma Hydraulic Trailer that raises and lowers to ground level. This trailer is used for low angle of loading equipment such as floor sweepers, pavement rollers, and printing presses. ( above - picture circa 1951 )Jacobsen Trailer, Inc is also a distributor for Wells Cargo and TPD enclosed trailers, Big-Tex utility trailers, truck beds, and many other utility manufacturers.Jacobsen Trailer, Inc, exhibits in the worlds largest agricultural show, Tulare Ag Exposition and many other California agricultural oriented shows and in the California/Nevada rental Shows. This way Jacobsen has direct contact with customers. ( left - picture circa 1999 Gene & Eric Jacobsen )The key to Jacobsen Trailers particular business success is diversification. When economic times are tough, trailer distributors that sell only one product have problems. Jacobsen Trailer is successful because it sells and manufactures a variety of trailers and components.